Feb 23 Meet LiveTube TV

YouTube reckons TV watching has lots of limitations. It says TV is unlike online video, and that people can't watch it when they want on any screen (though, with catch-up that’s not always true). YouTube says consumers have made it clear they want live TV without the hassle – ie they don’t want to worry about DVRs filling up, or miss a game or their favourite show because they’re out and about. “They tell us they want TV to be more like YouTube,” says YouTube.

Cue YouTube TV, which is live TV ‘designed for the YouTube generation’ that has been created with popular content partners such as ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN, regional sports networks and dozens of cable networks. On offer is live streaming of programming such as Empire, The Voice and The Big Bang Theory, along with kids programming from the Disney Channel or Sprout, and reality TV from E! or Bravo. There’s Showtime and Fox Soccer Plus as well, though they carry an extra charge (the regular fee is $35 per month)

There’s also a cloud DVR which can record as many shows as users want, simultaneously, with every recording stored for nine months. And each YouTube TV ‘membership’ comes with its own personal DVR and no limits

YouTube is promising that its video service will roll out soon in the largest US markets, with other cities in the pipeline.

The company announced recently that is was developing a first batch of original content for its YouTube Kids platform. The YouTube Kids channel launched two years ago and has racked up more than 30 billion in-app views.